Pipe and pipe joint gauge



Feb. 24, 1959 w, MGGAFFEY 2,874,475

PIPE. AND PIPE JOINT GAUGE I v Fiied May a. 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 i in 1/ 3 4 o z 5% 2 Pm TA a :5 27d 26 24 INVENTOR. :3

1 45 4 E DGAIZ WMCGAFFEY, 29 6w A free/vs Feb. 24, 1959 E. w. MOGAFFEY PIPE AND PIPE JOINT GAUGE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 8. 1953 llllllllllllllllllll I INVENTOR. 2642 W Mc GAFF'EY,

B G EFH- MW ATTORNEY.

Uni d tates. Patent 1 This-invention relates to pipe gauges and is particularly concerned with pipe coupling gauges by which the relative dimensions of internal or external pipe joints may be determined. V

While this invention is applicable in the gauging of an lnnumerable variety of pipe couplings and/or pipe end structures, the invention in its present illustrative embodinient provides specifically for the gauging 'of drill pipe oints, such as in oil well drilling, so that interfitting pipe lengths having uniform coupling or joint characteristcs may be'readily selected from a heterogeneous stock of drillpipe having various types of joints or couplings as may be found in warehouses or in the field.

Pipe joints or couplings are in most instances uniform as tobase and terminal dimensions as well as taper and length of thread for a given diameter of pipe. Such uniformity, however, does not pertain in drill pipes as used in the petroleum industry. While a similar lack of uniformity may occur in other fields and while the invention may thus be equally efficient and elfective' in other industries, it is here presented as especially adapted forthe selection of 'uniform oil well drill-pipe from a random collection of such pipe, numerous lengths of which may be like in diameter, but have differing joint constructions at their ends.

In considering such joint constructions, it should be home in mind that the-types 'of drill pipe joints vary materially. Among the categories of such joints are the externally upset, in which the external diameter of the joint portion of the pipe extends outwardly of the normal external surface of the pipe and the internally upset, in which the internal diameter of the joint portion is less than the normal internal diameter of the pipe. Externally upset joints may have an internal diameter equal to-theinternal diameter of the body of the pipe, forming an internal flush joint, while the internally upset joint may have an external diameter uniform with the external diameter of the body of the pipe to form an external flush joint. Furthermore, in some drill pipe both joint diameters differ from the normal diameters of the pipe,

the external being greater while the internal is less. In

each of these instances it will be noted that the joint thickness exceeds the pipe wall thickness. The selection of whether such increased thickness be achieved by increase of external diameter, decrease of internal diameter or by both, gives riseto variations in joint dimensions.

In the vernacular of the oil fields, the externally threaded, male joint element tapering outwardly with diminishing external diameter as it extends outwardly uniform externalfldiameter, oneor more of thepjpe r? is 2 joint dimensions vary for each type, while the pin and box dimensions for each type are of corresponding size. Thus, while the pin of each type will properly joint and thread into the box of the same size of the same type of pipe, the pin or box of the pipe of one type and size will not fit with, the .box or pin of a different type although the external diameter of the pipes may be the same.

From this consideration, it will be obvious that in the selection of pipes .of uniform size and type to make up a drill string from a random collection of pipes of varying types, mere selection of size asby inspection or calibration of the pipe body size will not be. sufiicient. Furthermore, since in some instancesthe joint dimensions are quite close, selection is not practical by visual inspection of the joint. The present invention provides a gauging instrument by which pipes of a given size and type may be readily selected from a mixed group of pipe.

It is therefore among the more general primary objects of the invention to provide a gauge assisting in the selection of pipe joints of uniform characteristics. Since in the oil well drilling art the drill pipe is conventionally provided with integral joint members, the gauge will be instrumental in the selection of pipe which has uniform joint characteristics.

Similarly, it is a general object of the invention to provide variable settable means adapted to be adjusted to certain characteristics of a pipe joint so that by application to the joints of an indiscriminate group of pipe those having uniform joint characteristics may be discriminated from others having unlike joint structures.

' A further'general object of the invention is to provide a pipe gauge which is applicable in the selection of pipe of homogeneous character from a heterogeneous mass of pipe independently of the diameter, either internal 7 or external of thebody of the pipe.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide settable gauge which when set to uniformly fit a pipe joint 'of one character will not properly fit a.

different type of joint even though the diameters of the pipe of which the joints are a part may be the same.

It is also a specific object of the invention to provide agauge of the character set forth which may be applicable to either the pin or the box of a pipe joint to select uniform interfitting jointelements, either pin or box.

Another object 'ofthe invention is to provide a settable gauge of the type referred to which maybe readily adjusted and thereafter set to be universally applicable as a gauge for a wide variety of types and sizes of pipe oil well drilling environments and well adapted to meet the demands of economic manufacture.

Numerous other objects and features of the present invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a detailed front elevation of a preferred form of the present invention with the gauge set and applied to the pin ofone type of pipe joint;

Fig. 2 is a vertical'detailed sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detailed fragmentary section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2

Fig. 4 is a detailed fragmentary section taken on the line 44 of Fig. 1;

' Fig-i i a v e ami a to. in. 1 hawl a as nas:

Patented Feb. 24, 1 5a tics.

as set and applied to the pin of a joint dissimilar to that of "Fig. 1 although the diameters of the pipes of Figs. 1 and 5 may be the same; and.

Fig.. 6 is.-.a.view similantoF-ig. 5..showing,the::gaug er as .set .irrrFi'g'. 5' applied Ltd the. interfitting .box of .axjointz' utilizingth'e pinof Fig.5. f

Ifi.generall terms, that.form.of..the invention illus tratedin the drawings andidescribed in thezfollowing, specification as. illustrative of f one. embodiment. of--I the present inventive concept may be-defined as. including a} pair of adjustable. interconnected and; hence. relatively movable. blocks upon each..ofwhich is. mounted. for. pivotal adjustment a; gauge arm.. Thisarrangementis. such that notonly maythe farms be set at anangletothe: blockseand to each other. corresponding to. the...tape'r-. of..- aselectedjoint. pin. or. box; buthy relative movement .of: thelblocks themseliresLthe armsmay. be;set;to. conform. with.the..p articular diametenof the. base .and. outer end; ofca. given pin.or box. Thus, the gaugemay be-..set.so.. that the. arms will. register. with; and-uniformly. contact. the threads of a box or pin of'one type having a. cer: tain. taper. and .certain. diameterswhile. not registering with and'uniformly. contacting, hence indicating distince tion, with another pin or box. having like taper but un-. like diameters.

As: .willlbe. particularly. notecLfrom. Figs. 5. and .6,- thegauging, arms .areprovided with both inner. andjouter. gauging edges so that the device is. applicable; as. agauge .for either. the.externally,threaded .pin -.or. the .internally threadedboxt. It'.will.also.be.noted.that.the armsmay be provided. .withlindi'cating... pointers .movableoyer. indicia .on the'blockssd asto permit .setting of .the. arms. to. conform .with a given. type. ofQpinor. box by regis'tra: tion ofthe pointenwithlan indicia'numeraliselected froman .information table. so as. to. avoid .the. necessity. of setting the gauge'originallyfrom; one selected pin 0r.box.. Thus, though no joint .offthe typetobe selected'inaybe. convenient for. setting the gauge, it may neverthelessb'e. set in conformity witha predetermined typev'vhichmay. then be easily distinguished from .a group ofipipe. by noting the -fit of thegauge. thereto.

Similarly, it willbe-seen. that theblocks for supporting the gauge armsarepreferably mounted on an indi-' cia bearing. plate, ,at 1east..one offthe blocks being slidable thereonsothat .inadjustingthe blocks to conformwitha. certain .pinor. box .diameter, .th'ecalibrations mayv be...resorted to.in.setting., in. the .manner. describedi with respect to thesetting ofjthearmss- The structurealso preferably;providesyieldable restraining means for retaining. the. interconnected. blocks. against accidental displacement ..after.setting and'for assisting in insuring accurate .relative. location of the. elements. More positive frictional'locking means may; also be provided to positively secure. the..blocks..in adjusted" position.

The invention contemplatesthe usetherewith of..tables setting forth the properindiciawith which arms or blocks are to be registered for the. selection of 'various types of joint pins or boxes. Suchtablesmay. be etched, printed or otherwise applied to. someportionofthe gaugeitself such as the obverse. side of: the .gauge. blocks from the sides shown in. the drawings... Suchtablesmay. be. made up by, and theindicia.of;the gauge.may correspond'to,. accurate and actual measurements of joint. character-is.- However, arbitrary, symbols,.. numerical or otherwise, may be used..and thusthe. invention is.in.no.way limited to the type orcharacter. ofindiciahere, illus' trated.. Furthermore, the invention .is'not limitedito the presence of indicia of any sort, since the-gaugemay. be set-by conforming it to one selectedi'p in. or joint and thereafter applying it at random to similar. appearing joints to test theactual conformitythereof t0.the firstselected element.

Referring now to the drawings which depict onepracti cal embodiment 'of'the 'invention; the numerals IO- and 11 indicate right and left hand gauge blocks respectively.

' Both blocks are here shown as substantially identical in construction and rectangular in form. Thus, the right hand block 10 is formed with a flat outer face 12 having an arcuate opening 14 therein, a plane outer side edge 16 and a parallel inner side edge 18 formed with an inwardly extending recess.20, th.e terminal ends of which are curved to provide inwardly-directed indicia indicating barbs 22. p

In like manner, the left hand block 11 is formed with a fiat outer face 13, arcuate" opening lS, plane'outer side edge 17 andlaninner side .edge' 19. Unlike block 10 however, neither side edge 17 or 19 of the block 11 is formed with a recess-forming indiciaindicating barbs, since, as will be hereinafter pointed out, the block 11 is not, in this embodiment of the invention, slidably mounted.

inner. facesof. the. blocks-.lflsand. 11;. are;;formed with transverse recesses .23. accommodating anintercon": nec'tingbasezbar. 2.4. The leftthand block. 11..is fixedly." secured to the base bar 24 by screws 25; extending through: the front ofthe blockandxinto. the.bar.. The right hand block; 10. however, .isslidable. longitudinally of; the; bar: 24,.being .yieldably guidedthereon by.- acurved; leaf. spring. 26, the ends. 21 ofwhich; are. secured. within. opposing; recesses .on the opposite :inner longitudinal .faces; OfithBJfiCfiSSfiS seen in Fig; 3. The.sp ring ;26,. as therein shown, provides. a central convex area. 2.8; which ridesr against an edge. of the bar, 24 to restrain accidental ion git'udinal movement of .the. blo'ck..10. on the: bar.24.

Forpositively securing the bloclclt). in..adjusted..positionl. longitudinally of the .bar. 2.4; a; 1 knurl headed..lock-. ing screw 24a. (see .Fig. 4); is threaded through :theaface: 0f.the.blockto engagethe bar.

Below. the bar 24 each recess 23. extends tozfornra: chamber. 29,.the. purpose of which will behereinafter; described in connection with the adjustment and securementof the gauge arms. The bar. 24 may have indicia inscribed. or. printed thereon for registration withzthe'. barbs :22 to indicate the relative position of :the blocks 10.:and'11. However, in thefor-m of the invention.here.- presented, a scale 21 is fitted into the'fI'OIfizfflCCTOfihGt. bar 24 whereby the barbs. 22 mayregister withtheindicia thereof toindicate the distance'of block 10 from; the .block. .11.

Upon each .of thegauge. blocks; 1.01 and. 11 there; is. pivotallytmounted. a gauge arm .30. As .these:arms,.,their: pivotal mounting and their. adjustmentsecuring means. are; identical, like. numerals, are used. with respect. to. bothof the arms. Each arm.30 ispivotallymountedrin-ttermediate its ends.- to its, gauge-block by; means: of; a! headed: pivot pin.31.threadedly engaged in acorresponch ing-threaded aperture .32. of the block; Eacharm extends. inwardly from the pivot. pin 31. forming a .shank 33..- Theinner end.34 of each shank 33.-is formedwithaz pointer; 35 adapted to sweep across-an. arcuatetgroup of. scale'indicia 36 indicating the angularity of the arm with respect toits block. A further'discussion ofindicia 36 and the calibrations indicated thereby will. be 1 found in-the' subsequent. discussion oftheuse .of. thepresent. gauge.

For. securing the arms. 30, against. accidental displace: ment from .anadjusted inclination. and for. assisting-in the accurate locationof such arms at-.a'.preselected inclina- 5 tion; a-. bolt 37 extends.through...each.arm..3l) adjacent.

the; scale indicia; 36.. Such. bolts 37 further. extend. through thearcuate openings ;14-.or 15. so. that .the pivotal 1 movement of the-arms 30.is limitedby the'extentof'lthc openings;-. The outer end of. each bolt 37'is. formed with. a. threaded; pin receiving recess;into which is;.se:- curedapin 38.having a. retaining head .39. 'Encircling. the shank :of: each" bolt. outwardly of;the;* arm 30,- there.

is provided a tension spring 40 housed withinzanrin'nerq cup 41 bearing againstthe .armzltlt.v and; anmuter: cup 421retained by the head=39 of pin '38 tozprovide .=a:.nor:

mal outward spring biasingof 'the bolt 37. The inner within the serrations 45 not only assists in accurately locating the arms but locks the same against accidental movement. Obviously, such engagement is under the influence of springs 40 tending to urge the bolts 37 outwardly. Such resilient biasing however, may be readily overcome by pressure on the heads 39 by which the bolts are forced inwardly, releasing the bars 43 to permit free pivotal movement of the arms for adjustment purposes.

. The portions of the arms'30 extending outwardly from the blocks 10 and 11 are formed with inner and outer thread-engaging gauge edges 51 and 52 respectively. As indicated in Fig. 1, when the device is set with the blocks 10 and 11 properly spaced to conform with the end diameter of a joint pin, indicated at 53, and when the arms are angularly adjusted to conform with the taper of such pin, as determined by the relation of thread end diameter to thread base diameter in a. given length of the thread, the inner gauge edges 51 will uniformly contact the pin threads. shown in Figs. 1 and 5, the arm angularity is such as to dispose the pointer inwardly of the medial 0 indication of the indicia 36. Thus, such inward indicia is noted as Pin Taper. Since a corresponding uniform taper must of necessity be incorporated in a corresponding box within which such pin may properly fit, the opposite or outer portion of the indicia 36 beyond the "0 point is indicated as Box Taper. Since the calibrations on each side of the "0 point are uniform, it will readily be observed (see Fig. 6) that a taper reading of 2 for a pin on the Pin Taper scale will dispose the arms in a position angularly equal in divergence to the angle of convergence when the arms are set in the reading 2 of the Box Taper scale. In such position the outer gauge edges 52 of the arms will uniformly engage the internal threads of a corresponding box into which the pin may properly be threaded.

As suggested by the foregoing, the blocks may be spaced and the arms angularly separated by fitting the device to a selected pin. For purposes of illustrating the operation of the device, this mode of setting may be assumed to have taken place in the application of the gauge to the pin of Fig. 1. In this use, reference to any indicia in first setting the gauge may be ignored. Assuming the type of pipe or pipe joint to be chosen from a group of mixed pipes or joint has been selected, a convenient pin of the joint of such pipe is located. The sliding gauge block 10 is then released from the bar 24 by loosening locking screw 24a and the block is moved outwardly on the baraway from the block 11. As shown in Fig. 1, the gauge is thenapplied to the pin 53 sothatthe ends 54 of the blocks 10 and 11 will abut the outer end of the pin. The left hand arm 30 is then released for pivotal movement by depression of bolt 37 and moved to provide uniform contact of the inner edge 51 thereof with the threads of the pin. With the ends 54 of the blocks 10 and 11 still abutting and disposed in parallelism with the end of the pin 53, the block 10 is moved inwardly toward the block 11 until the inner edge of the right hand arm engages the opposite side of the threads of the pin. The right hand arm is then pivotally moved to uniformly contact the threads. It

will-be 'notedfof course, that the angular position-of the right hand arrrr when in full contact with threads is iden- For a pin it will be noted that, as

tical with that of the arm of the block 11. ;Thus, if desired, the angular adjustment of the arm of block 10 being ascertainable from that of block 11 in this situation, may be made in advance of sliding the block 10 inwardly toward the block 11 if desired. After adjusting the block 10 the screw 24a may be adjusted to secure the block 10 in location. Arms 30 will be retained in their adjusted positions by engagement of the knife edges 44' in serrations 45 under the influence of springs 40.

With the gauge so adjusted it may then be applied to pin after pin of the mixed group of joints and when the gauge is found to fit a pin, the joint thereof will be known to be uniform with that first selected for the gauge setting and thus uniform pins may be distinguished from other pins not conforming to the one elected. When it is desired to select boxes conforming to the pin by which the gauge has been set, setting of the gauge arms by application to a known conforming box will not be required, since as has been pointed out, a conforming inward taper may be selected by moving the arms so that their points register with identical numerical calibrations on the "Box Taper scale of the indicia 36.

Turning now to Figs. 5 and 6, the setting of the gauge by predetermined numerical gauge readings may be considered. Assuming the pin P of Fig. 5 conforms with the box B of Fig. 6, thevbase diameter at 60 of the pin P will equal the end diameter at 61 of the box B. Similarly, the end pin diameter at 62of the pin P will equal the inner end diameter of the box B. Since the thread lengths are equal the taper of the pin P will be It will be, assumed that a chart has been prepared showing the;-

equal but opposite to the taper of the box B.

. 36, the blocks 10 and 11 will be set so that the barbs 22 of block 10 will register with the reading 4% onv the bar 24. Arms 30 will be set so that their pointers 35 will register with the pin scale inner numeral 2 of ca1ibrations 36. With the gauge so set, the device may be applied to numerous pins and the arms will uniformly contact the pin threads of all joints of the chosen type but will not so contact dissimilar joint pins. Selection of such joint pins is thus easily made.

To select boxes of conforming joints, the arms are set to the 2 of the outer Box Taper portion of indicia 36 and the proposed chart is consulted to determine the proper spacing of the blocks 10 and 11 on the bar 24. In this instance, the chart will show the proper spacing for box calibration of this type of joint to be 3%. The blocks are then set as illustrated in Fig. 6, and the gauge may then be applied to boxes in the manner shown. Boxes of non-uniform joints will not snugly receive the outer edges of the arms in uniform thread contacting manner, as shown in Fig. 6, and thus such boxes will be known as not conforming to the joint selected from the chart.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the present invention provides a simple, eflicient, effective and economical gauge for the selection of pipe joints and par-' ticularly for the selection of jointed drill pipe having uniform joints from a group of pipe having like diam-- It will of course be underto in the practice of the invention without departure from the spirit or scope thereof as outlined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A'pipe and pipe joint gauge includingra pair of relatively movable gauge blocks;;a' scale interconnecting-saidblockswith respectto whichat least 'one'of said blocks may move to provide relative movement between said-blocks; a pair of opposed gauge arms extending-from said'blocks pivotally mounted thereon for relative angular adjustment; at least one of said blocks having at one end a straight edge disposed in outwardlyends-on said first-mentioned block; and another gauge arm pivotally mounted intermediateits ends on said second mentioned block for cooperation with thefirst mentioned gauge'arm; each of said blocks having at oneend a straight edge disposed in outwardly spaced parallel relation to said'scale and extending across and laterally beyond'opposite edges of'the associated gauge arm'toprovide stopshoulders between said arms as well as out-- side the space between said arms.

3. In' a gauge: a scale having calibration indicia thereon; avgauge block secured to said scale; a gaugeblock'having-a barb registrable with the indicia of said scale slidable on said scale with respect to said first mentioned block; a gauge'arm pivotally mounted on said first mentioned block; cooperable means on said block and said arm respectively for indicating the relative angularity of said" arm and'said'block; an opposed cooperating'gauge arm pivotally mounted on said second mentionedlblock; and means on said second mentioned block: and said second'mentioned arm respectively cooperable to indicate the relative angularity thereof with respect'to said block; said blocks having straight edges extending across said arms and laterally past opposite edges'of said arms to-form a pair of stop shoulders between said arms as well as a pair of stop shoulders outside the space between said arms; 7 i

4. A drill pipe: joint gauge including: a pair of gauge blocks'havingplanar end surfaces for contacting the end f.

of'said drill pipe joint; means includinga scale to which onexofzsaid blocks is-fixed interconnecting said gaugeblocks to permit relative bodilymovement thereof; means on theother block cooperating with saidscale-for' indicating the relative spacing of-said' blocks; means releasably retaining said'other block in adjusted position on said scale relative to said fixed block; an arm pivotally mounted on each of said blocks; said arms having por tions extending outwardly from said end surfaces; each arm having a pair of gauge edges extending longitudinally of said portions; the planar end surface'of each block being disposed in spaced parallel relation to said scale and having a portion extending laterally outwardly from each gauge edge of each of said arms; and means for releasably holding said arms in angularly adjusted position.

5. Ina gauge-for pipe and pipe joints: a gauge arm;

a member on..wl1ich said .arm is pivoted; said member having a surface. provided with. an arcuateopening,

urgingsaid bolt. in a direction. to engage said cross arm: withsaid underside of said surface; said memberhaving, scale indicia onsaid surfaceadjacent said portion of said;

arm; said underside of said surface having serrations terior of a pin to be gauged 'or the interior of a box to be registering with said 'indicia; said cross arm being engage therein overwhich' a'portion of saidarm travels; and" abolt extending from said arm through said'opening; said bolt having a cross arm thereon releasably engageable with the underside of said surface; spring meansurging said bolt in a'direction to engage said cross arm with said underside of said surface; said underside of said surface having serrations; and a knife edge on said cross arm engageable in said serrations.

7. In a gauge for the pins and boxes of oil well drill pipes: a pair of members having planar surfaces for contacting the outer end of a pin or box to be gauged; means mounting said members in opposed relation to one another for relative movement to vary the spacing of said members one from the other; a gauge arm pivoted on each of said members;- said arms having portions extended outwardly from said surfaces with opposite edges of said portions disposed for optionally contacting the exgauged saidmounting means being laterally offset from said surfaces'whereby said surfaces may be engaged with said pin or box while the pin or'box is laterally outwardly spaced'from said mounting means; said surfaces extending transversely across tsaid'arms'beyond said opposite edges for engaging said pin when the latter is between said arms and for engaging :said box when said arms are within saidbox.

pipes: apair-of members having planar'surfaces for contacting the outer end of a pin or box to be gauged;

means mounting said members in opposed relation to one another for relative movement to vary the spacing of said portions disposed for optionally contacting the exterior of a pin tobe gauged or the interior of a box to be gauged;

and means on ,one .of said members and said mounting means respectively cooperable to indicate the spacing of said members said surfaces extending transversely across.

said arms at pointslaterally outwardly spaced from said mountingmeans; said surfaces extending laterally from;

said opposite edges.

9. Ina gauge for thepins and boxes of ,oil well drill pipes: a .pair of members having planar surfaces for con tacting the outer end of .a pinor box to be gauged;.means mounting said. members inopposed relationrto one an other for. relative movement to vary the spacing of said members one from the other; a gauge arm pivoted on each of said members; said arms having portions extended outwardly from said surfaces with opposite edges of said portions disposed for optionally contacting the exterior of a pin to be gauged or the interior ofa box to be gauged; means on one of "said membersand said mounting means respectively cooperable to indicate the spacing of said members; and means on-said arms and said mounting means respectively, cooperable to indicate the relative an= gularity of said'arms said surfaces extending transverselyv across said arms at points laterally outwardly spaced from said mountingmeansysaid surfaces extending laterallyfrom said opposite edges.

10. In a gauge for the pins and boxes of oil well drill pipes: 'a'pairof elongated members each having atone end a surface normal thereto for contacting the outer end a ofapinor box. to be gauged; means mounting said members in opposed relation to one another for relative movement to vary the spacing ,of said membersone from thepivotsandhaving; portions extended outwardly from saidv surfaces; said portions having innerand outer longitudinal 8. In a gauge for'the pinsand boxes of oil well drill edges disposed to lie against the outer surface of a pin and the inner surface of a box, respectively; means for releasably holding said members against relative movement; and means for releasably holding said arms against relative movement about their pivots said surfaces extending transversely across said arms at points laterally outwardly spaced from said mounting means; said surfaces extending laterally from said opposite edges.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 364,630 Bowyer June 14, 1887 

